Impact Grants Update
September 9, 2025
The latest grants awarded to local nonprofits!
Each quarter, we have the privilege of awarding grants to organizations leading meaningful projects, and each grant is the ongoing, powerful impact of generosity in action.
This new round of grants was made possible by the collective giving of hundreds of donors. To each of you, and on behalf of the organizations highlighted here, we say with heartfelt gratitude: thank you. Your support is transforming lives and helping our community thrive.
Health and Human Services – $75,000
Bridging Brighter Smiles | $20,000 toward the salary of a first-year, part-time dentist, expanding the on-site dental services they offer to include the addition of silver diamine fluoride.
Healthy Opportunities for Latin Americans (HOLA) | $15,000 for Wellness on Wheels (WoW), a 12-week culturally tailored program bringing wellness education, injury prevention, health screenings, life-saving trainings, and other health resource information to farm workers participating in farm cohorts.
Humane Society of Marathon County | $15,000 to help replace their facility’s nearly 20-year-old parking lot.
New Beginnings For Refugees | $10,000 toward their EmpowerU program, which recruits and coordinates volunteers to tutor and mentor refugees in English, healthcare, finances, and life skills, building confidence, independence, and stronger community connections for successful integration.
Wausau Fire Department | $15,000 to purchase a new set of battery-powered hydraulic extrication tools (“Jaws of Life”) to improve response times and increase safety during vehicle rescues across the community.
Arts – $40,000
Central Wisconsin Educational Theater Alliance (CWETA) | $15,000 for a digital short-throw projection to enhance visual storytelling and provide performance options outside of traditional theater spaces, part of their effort to modernize the theater and reach the community.
Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art (WMOCA) | $25,000 toward the Wausau Club Renovation Completion, including renovations to the elevator, bar equipment, lighting for the lounges and rental spaces, outdoor signage, and general operational support.
What makes these grants possible?
The generosity of hundreds of donors! All gifts help bring to life more community-brightening visions for Marathon County.
Anyone can give directly to the Wausau Marathon County Fund or establish their own impact fund, called a Named Fund for Wausau Marathon County. Both options of gifts are invested for growth and are designed to accept gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, or bequests.
Named Funds for Wausau Marathon County:
- Otto S. & Esther M. Holmskug | Silver | 1994
- Clarion G. & Irene B. Sternberg | Bronze | 2002
- Orville & Geraldine Peterson Family | Bronze | 2004
- Caroline S. Mark | Platinum | 2005
- Marvin C. & Ruth (Rudie) J. Schuette | Platinum | 2009
- Nils Folke Jr. & Jean B. Becker | Platinum | 2013
- Edward & Lois Drott | Platinum | 2016
- James & Susan Lundberg | Gold | 2017
- Tom & Marilyn Kraemer | Silver | 2023
- William & Juliana Franzen | Silver | 2024
- Wausau Business Show | Granite | 2024
- Harvey H. Scholfield Jr. Family | Granite | 2024
- Jim & Jan Kemerling Family | Silver | 2025
- Sue Nelson Legacy of Service Fund | Granite | 2025
- Mark & Rita Yaeger | Granite | 2025
- Mary & Bill Mahony | Granite | 2025
- Dennis & Bonnie Mealy | Quartzite | 2025
Giving Levels:
Diamond | $2,000,000 or more
Platinum | $1,000,000 to $1,999,999
Gold | $500,000 and $999,999
Silver | $250,000 and $499,999
Bronze | $100,000 to $249,999
Quartzite | $50,000 to $99,999
Granite | $10,000 to $49,999
How can you get involved today?
Have you ever dreamed of accomplishing something important but needed more resources to make it happen? Watching nonprofit leaders dream big but lack the resources to make their dreams come true was the catalyst for establishing the Wausau Marathon County Fund. The nonprofits in our community meet a variety of tangible needs, and for decades now, they have been able to apply for grants from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin to help make their visions for a brighter community come to life. Anyone can donate at any time! Every gift is meaningful and is important for making the community a better place for all.
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